Refrigerating-machine.



No. 833,325. PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906.

W. G. HIESTER.

RBFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY22, 1905.

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WITNESSES: //v VENTOI? No- 833,325. PATENTED OCT. 16, 1906. W. G. HIESTBR.

REFRIGERATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 22, 1905.

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. water or other medium employe I part of the refrigeratin UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. I

WILLIAM (J. HIESTER, OF DAYTON, OHIO.

4 REFRlGERATlNG-MACHINE. I

To all whom it may concern: r

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. HIESTER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Refri crating-Machines, of which I declare the foIloWing to be a full, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to improvements in r'efrigerating-maclfines, and has more partic-' ular relation to improvements in automatic controlling mechanisms for the same.

One of the principal objects of the invention is to provide an automatic controllin valve whereby the desired quantity of liquld ammonia or other refrigerating medium and cooling or condensing water is automatically fed in the proper proportions to secure. the most eflicientresults in operation and cost of maintenance. a V A further object of the invention is to provlde an improved valve in which both the high and low pressure portions of the system operate conjointly to effect a proper and economical adjustment of the sup 1y of the for condensing purposes. I v

The invention also has other objects, all of which will be hereinafter more particularly set forth, and enumerated in the specification and claims which follow.

- In the accompanying drawings, which form present specification, Figure 1 represents a s1de elevation, partly in section, of a refrigerating system with my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 represents a detail vertical section through In improved i 3 repre valve onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1. sents a top plan view of the same. ig. 4 represents a detail vertical section through my right angles to that of Fig.2. Fig 5 represents a detail side elevation of my said improved valve.

Before enterin into a detail description of my improved va yo and its applicatlon in a system I wish to state some of the known efects in the controlling mechanlsms at present in use for governing the supply of refrigerating medium and also controlling the sup ly of condensing or cooling fluid. In such l nown systems the attention of an attendant is constantly necessary to change the adjustments of the valves and keep the plant in operative condition. Fur- I Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed July 22, 1906- Serial No. 210.874.

Patented Oct. 16, 1906.

ther, even with such constant attention the operation of the plant is not regular and dependenc must be-placed alto ether upon the skill of t e operator to keep t e valves in the proper relative ad'ustments necessary for the economical an successful operation of the plant. from the attendant the plant will very seldom be in the pro er adjustment, as the operation' of the di erent feeds is subject to change and he cannot give the time and at tention necessary to keep all the conditions normal. Further, with the present controlling devices considerable waste takes place, as the changing conditions of the refrigerating medium can be met with a corresponding change in the suction and the flow of the cooling or condensing medium; ,The' result is that the refrigeratin medium or the condeiising fluid is not being used proportionate The above conditions, with the accompan ingwaste and cost of maintenance, malZe small plants for private use out of all reason, and it is to overcome such defects and provide' an eflicient and economical plant that the present invention is intended.

In the accompanyinfg drawings, 1 represents thesupply-tank or the li uid or condensed ammonia; 2, the pump or creating the necessary vacuum in onepart of the system and the desired compression for the condenser; 3, the refrigeratmg-tank, and 4 the condenser-tank.

The tank-1 contains liquid ammonia under compression. This liquid ammonia is fed through pipe 5 'to an inlet-port 6 in my improved contr01ling-valve. The port 6 opens into a closed high-pressure chamber 7,

formed at one end with an outlet-port 8 opening into a low pressure chamber 9. The walls of the-port 8 are formed with a conical valve-seat 10, which is arranged to receive a conicalvalve 11, mounted fast on 'a valvestem 12. This stem is journaled at one end, as at 13, in the wall of the chamber 9 and has its opposite end, which is screw-threaded, mounted adjustably in an elongated nut 14, which is screwed into) and closes the outer end of the high-pressure chamber 7. The

threaded adjustment between the stem and said nut is utilized to seat and unseat the valve 11 as the pressure in the low-pressure chamber 9 varies. The oscillatory movement of the valve-stem necessary to effect ber. The diaphragm 18 is held firmly in position by bolts 19, which secure a cap-plate 20 down over said diaphragm. The top of the valve and the under side of the cap-plate are hollowed out to provide a diaphragmchamber 21 to accomodate the movements of the diaphragm. The upper end of the stem 17 extends through the top of the capplate 20 and is pivotally secured to a lever 22. This lever is pivotally mounted on the capplate, as at 23, and, is provided at one endwith anadjustable weight 24.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that when the liquid ammonia enters the high-pressure chamber 7 it passes through the port 8 into the low-pressure chamber 9. This pressure in the low-pressure chamber is exerted upon the under side of the diaphragm 18 and raises the same together with the stem 17. This movement will result in rocking the valve-stem 12, and as the same screws forward the valve will be seated and close the port between the high and low pressure chambers until the pressure in the low-pressure chamber reaches the proper gage, when the weight 24 will force the stem 17 down again and open the valve to admit more ammonia. A link 25 is pivotally connected to one end of the lever 22 and is provided at its lower end with a pin 26, which projects laterally into an angular slot 27, formed in a lever 28. The slot 27 is formed withan approximately horizontal portion and an inclined portion. The pin normally plays in the horizontal portion of the slot 27 ,and the lever 28 is thus moved in accord with the lever 22. When the link 25 is moved out-' ward, however, and the pin brought into the inclined portion of the slot, the relative positions of the levers 22 and 28 will be changed and the valve 30, hereinafter described, will be opened to a greater extent. This movement of the link takes place when the pressure in the high-pressure chamber exceeds a certain fixed point represented by the hollow gagespring 31. This spring isof the usual construction and is screw-threaded, as at 32, andscrewed into the walls of the valve, so that itwill communicate with a passage-way 33, connected to the high-pressure chamber 7 and formed in the body of the valve. The spring is also held in position and locked by a lock-nut 34. The outer or free end of the spring is pivotally connected to a pendent link 35, pivotally mounted upon an arm 36 of the valve. The lower end of the link is connected by a turnbucklerod 37 to the link 25. Under normal conditions the gage-spring will not act and the pin 26 remains in the horizontal portion of the slot 27; but when the pressure in the high-pressure chamber rises above the pressure for which the gagespring is set this spring will expand in the well-known manner and will operate the link 35 and through the rod 37 will force the lower end of the link 25. outward, and thus move the pin 26 into the inclined portion of the slot 27 and open the valve 30 to a greater extent. This movement of the valve 30 may be independent of any movement of the lever 22, or it may take place at the same time that the valve is being operated by the movement of said lever 22.

The lever 28, heretofore mentioned, is pivotally mounted in a pendent lug 38, formed on the base-plate 39, which is somewhat similar to the cap-plate 20 and is secured over a water-pressure chamber 40, formed in the lower part of the valve, the cap being hollowed out to permit movement of a diaphram 41 which is secured between said baseplate and the bottom of the valve by bolts 42. A plunger 43, mounted in the base-plate, forms the connecting medium between the'lever 28 and the diaphragm 41. The valve 30, which is provided with suitable guiding-wings 44 and a stud 45, rests upon the top of the diaphragm 41, whereby the movements of the valve are controlled by the movements of the diaphragm. The valve 30 is seated as at 46 and closes the water-port 47, which-is connected to the water-supply by passage 48 and pipe 49, as best illustrated in Fig. 4. A passage-way 50 from the chamber 40 permits the water to pass into the supply-pipe 51 and. thenceto the condensing-tank 4, a suitable overflow-pipe 52 being provided for said tank to carry off the heated'water. A certain predetermined quantity of Water is necessary to properly condense the compressed gases in a condenser-coil 53, located in the tank 4, and more water than is necessary would simply be a waste. My improved automatic valve after being once set automat ically supplies just the rightv amount of water according to the compression in the coil 53. If the compression in the coil rises, there will of course be a greater quantity of heat to carry off and a greater quantity of water will thus be necessary, whereas if the compression in the coil is reduced there is less heat-generated and less water is required to effect the condensation ofthe gases.

One end of the coil 53 is connected to the outlet-port of the compressor 2 by a pipe 54, having a valve 55, while the other or lower end of the coil is connected to the tank 1 by a pipe 56, also provided with a valve 57.

The low-pressure chamber 9 is connected by a pipe 59 to the refrigerating-coil 60, which is preferably located in the brine-tank 3. A

. greater exte tents. supply pipe 61 connects the coil to the inlet-port of the compressor 2. The compressor 2 is of any usual form and is operated by any desired form of motor, the same formingno part of the present invention.

As above stated, the supply of water to the tank 4 is automaticall controlled by the pressure within the coi 53. This result is effected because the pressure in the coil is dependent upon the speed of the compressor, and the greater the pressure inthe pipe '54 the greater the suction in the pipe 61, the coil 60, the pipe 59, and the low-pressure chamber 9. As the pressure in the chamber 9 falls because of the suction the valve 11 opens and admits more liquid ammonia, because of the downward movement of the diaphragm. This downward movement of the diaphragm and stem 17 causes the water- 'valve to be opened to a greater extent, as be fore described, and thus permits a greater amount of water to pass through the 1 i e 51 into the tank 4 to absorb and carry 0 t e increased heat from the coil 53. Should the aditional amount of water fed to the tank not completely compensate for the higher temperature of the gases in the coil 53, it will be seen that the pressurein the high-pressure side of. the system will immediately rise. The pressure in the high-pressure chamber will thus soon reach a point at which the ga e-spring is set to operate, and the spring wil tend to straighten out and open the water-valve to a nt," so that sufiicient water will be supplied to the tank 4 to cool the coil 53 sufficiently to cause condensation of its con- It will thus' be seen that the wateris controlled from both the high and the low pressure sides of the system conjointly. The ipe 5 is provided with the valve 75 and tiie pipe 61 with the valve 76, while both of the pipes 54 and 61 are connected to suitable gages 77 and 78 for indicating the pressure therein.

While I have shown my refrigerating coil 60 as mounted in a brine-tank, it will be readily understood that the coil may be mounted in a refrigerator or in any other position, as

the cold brine is simply utilized as a medium for conveniently lowering the temperature to I any desired point.

The action of my improved valve is as follows: The compressor 1s first put into operation, and as soon as the suction-pressure has been reduced to that equivalent represented by the weight 24 the expansion or'ammonia valve opens and permits a flow of the refrigerant equivalent to the amount necessary to carry the desired suction-pressure. Upon the opening of this valve motion is transmitted to the link 25 and the water-valve is correspondingly openedv Alimited amount of water is thus fed immediately to the condenser. After the compressor has been in operation for some time the compressed inclined portion of compressor is shut down, only a portion of the condenser-water is shut off at once, as the continued high pressure of the hot. gases holds the spring 31 elongated, and thus holds the water-valve open. The valve remains 0 an and water is fed to the condenser until t e gases in the hi hpressure side of the system cool suflicient y to permit the spring 31 to assume its normal position. hot weather and when the plant is not in operation the pressure of the gases will rise and the spring 31 will be elongated to open the water-valve until the gases are cooled.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that my improved valve or regulator will control or maintain the supply of the reigerant needed and will supply the limited amount of condensing fluid necessary.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a refrigerating system the combination with a compressor and a condenser with connections, of a valve for controlling the supply of the refrigerating medium, a valve for controllin the supply of the condensing medium, an mechanism connecting the valves for synchronous adjustments in varying degrees according to the pressure controlled by the refrigeranflvalve.

2. In a refrigerating system the combination with a condenser and a compressor with connections, of a refrigerant controlling valve, a valve for the cooling medium for the In extremely condenser, and devices connecting the valves for synchronous adjustments in varying degrees according to the pressure in the connections between the refrigerant-valve and the compressor.

3. In a refrigerating system the combina tion with a compressor and a condenser, of expansion connections, hi h-pressure connections, valves for control ing the refrigerant and water respectively, and mechanism for governin the valvesfromboththe ex ansion and the igh-pressure connections 0 the system.

. 4. A regulator comprising an expansionvalve with provisions for operation by the expanding gases or suction and a watervalve and connections with provisions for operation by the expanding gases and the refrigerant before expansion.

5. A regulator comprising an expansionvalve with provisions'for operation by the ex andin gasesor suction, and a waterva ve and connections with provisions for operation by the expanding gases and the refrigerant before expansion together or independently.

6. In a refrigerating system, a regulator comprising an expansion valve operated from the expansion side of the system, and a water-valve connected to and operated by the expansion-valve for controlling the cool ing in the compression side of the system.

7. A regulator comprising an expansionvalve, means on the low-pressure side of the valve for controlling its operation, a watervalve, connections between the two valves for "effecting their conjoint action, and means for operating the water-valve independently from the high-pressure side of the expansionvalve.

8. In a refrigerating system, a regulator comprising an expansion-valve, a diaphragm connection controlled from the expansion side of the system, and a water-valve connected to said diaphragm for controlling the cooling in the compression side of the system.

9. In a refrigerating system, a regulator comprising an expansion-valve, a watervalve, diaphragms' for the two valves controlled by the expanding gases and the water respectively and means connecting the diaphragms for conjoint action.

10. In a refrigerating system, a regulator comprising an ex ansion-valve, means on the low-pressure si e of the valve for controlling its operation, a water-valve, connections between the two valves, and a lnghressure expansion-spring and connections or controlling the water-valve from the high-pressure side of the expansion-valve.

11. In a refrigerating system, the combination with an expansion-valve, of a watervalve, an adjustable link connecting the valves, and a connection on the high-pres sure side of the expansion-valve for moving said link to effect the adjustment.

12. In a refrigerating system, the combination with a compressor and a condenser, of a refrigerant-controlling valve, a water-controlling valve, means connecting the two valves for conjoint action from the expan sion side of the refrigerant-valve, and an adjustable means for governing further the water-controlling valve, governed from the hi gh-pressure side of the refrigerant-valve.

13. In a valve for a refrigerating system, the combination with an expansion-valve, of

a water-valve, adjustable connections for varying the relations between the two valves and means for automatically adjusting said connection from the high-pressure side of the expansion-valve.

14. In a refrigerating system the combination with an expansion-valve, of a diaphragm controlling the same with provisions for connecting it in the low-pressure side of the system, a water-valve, positive connections between the two valves and means for controlling this connection from the highpressure side of the expansion-valve.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM C. HIESTER.

Witnesses:

CHARLES N. Lnfiron, THEODORE M. HIESTER. 

